Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-05-26
ANDRE THEREOF.

banks of the Loire; and when 1t was
first built, or conquered, blythe ances.
tors of the Comte de Maupassant, no
one knew. But the beautiful domain
of Beaujolais had descended to the
Maupassants for centuries in an un.
broken line.
The present owner, Count Guy, was
perhaps the wealthiest and proudest
of his race, as he was also the last.
His only child Blanche, a little girl
about ten years old, was the sole sci.
on OF that once numerous and pow
erful family, and what affection her
father had was lavished upon her.
But, like all the Maupassants, he was
cold-hearted and naughty, and when
his wife, whom he had married from
motives of interest, dropped, faded,
and died, in the uncongenial atmos'
phere of the old chateau, he gave her
scant mourning.
As for the little Countess, she had
her governess and her bonnie, and, be-
ing EXTREMITY Silful, was allowed to do
pretty much as she pleased. Her
father, who spent the greater part Of
his time in Paris, was quite content,
on his visits to the chateau, to see
his beautiful little daughter healthy
and happy, and the greatest little des-
pot in the household, which was
wholly submissive to her widest
whjms.
What a life she led theml She re-
belled against the constant watchful.
ness of governess and maids, and
nothing delighted her more than to
run away from them, and pass long
ours in wandering alone through the
deep forests and broad fields Of
Beaujolais. Her governess, agood,
indoleEt woman, was In utter de-
spair at these escapades.
But, mademoiselle, | forbid you
| TO 90 alone," she cried. at is not
CONNIE il fault for the Countess de
Maupassant to wander about alone,
| like one of the common children"
Then | wish / was acommon peas
ant child!' the little lady cried, stamp,
ing her feet angrily. ''They have got
children to play with them, and I've
got nobody but you and Bonnie
Marie; and you are old, old, and you
| can't Jump and run and play. ! will
90 by myself; and if you watch me OF
| try to follow mp, madame, j will &C
outside the gate and run away to
Paris. There now!"
Poor Madame Duloc shook and
| shivered at this threat. She knew the
child would keep her word, and then
what would happen? AS for punish
ing her refractory charge as she de-
served, that she knew was utterly i'm
possible, and would cost her an easy
and lucrative situation. So she
weakly strove to compromise.
IF you would only take Celine,
mademoiselle, then you might stay
out as long as you please"
but / am running away from Celine
and everybody" she cried impatient.
~. 81 hate to be watched, and if you
will DO it, | viii run awayaI will SC
where | choose"
Poor Madame Duloc faised her
hands and eyes in despair, but before
this will go she knew she was power
less. See did what she could; she ex.
acted q promise from Blanche that
she would never go beyond the park
gates. Wilful and ungovernable as
the little Countess was, she had never
| broken her word, so Madame DuloC
was forced to yield the point. She
would climb laboriously to the high
tower, and watch the child through
the fields, and until she was lost in the
recesses of the forest. But after a
time, when Blanche came in regularly,
glowing with health and ready to
| study more sedulously than she had
ever done, she ceased her espionage.
The lonely little girl found her life
full of intrest now. She made friends
with the birds and squirrels, and al
the wild things of the field and for,
est. She was a warm-hearted, loving
little creature, though her best impul
ses had been repressed by her arti,
fetal life, and it was her greatest pleas.
ure to stop and chat with old Theriot,
| the gardener, and his assistants, who
were always busy about the grounds,
One beautiful spring morning, in heI
wanderings through the spacious
gardens, Blanche came to an arch
twined with the fragrant Provence
rose, then in full bloom. They were
| high above her reach, 10 was there a
foothold on the arch where she could
| climb. She looked around. No one
was in sight but q tall lad, who was
wedding one OF the beds.
Here, garcon, come and get mi
some roses"
He came obedjently, and gathered
her large cluster.
"You are very TALL" she said, "to
reach up there. Where do you live,
and how old are your"
Il am SIXTEEN" and, mademoiselle,
| live here. | am Andre Theriot."
"Ah, you are the the gardener Their,
lots son. | like him." nodding heI
head gravely. "He is a good man,
He let's me pick the nectarines myself
Do you want a rose, Andre?" holding
out one, with the air of a young EN-,
press. Andre put out his hand for 1T,
when she drew it back, with a mis-
chievous laugh.
Come, now, Pm going to treat you
as madame does me, when she gives
me bonbons. You must spell rose
before you get it,"
The lads handsome face flushed
crimson.
but, mamselle," he .stammored.
al can't spell. ] don't know my let.
ters."
Don't know your letters, you, a
big, strong boy OF sixteenl Oh, you
must be very lazy! Why don't you
learn"
But, mamselle, my father is toe
poor to send me to school. 1 wish ]
could learn. All, mon Dieu, ii | could
only learn to read, / would be SO
happy!" clasping his hand. with the
big tears in his eyes.
"You shall earn to read Andrea
Pity and sympathy were ut work in
that warm little heart. al will teach
you myself. Meet me tomorrow morn.
ing at the summer. house on the
| will bring books, and | will ,uA
YOU"
you, mamselle!" Andre cried stu.
pefied. II an angel from heaven had
offered to teach him, he could not
have been more astonished than al
this condescension from his beautiful.
little chatelaine.
"And why not? OF course | shall
not tell Madame Dnloc or anybody,
for they would make such n fuss. But
be in the summer-house tomorrow
OF course Andre did not fail to obey.
He never dreamed of disputing her or.
ders, and the lad was wild co learn
Blanche was an exacting and impa.
tient little teacher, but Andre was Sc
bright and eager that in iiy,
months he had almost reached th:
limit OF Blanche's small acquire.
ments. She had grown extremely